Door latch mechanism



July 14,.v 1964. A. J. 01 SALVO 3,140,888

DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 AMI/wavy J. 0/84 V0 INVENTOR.

BY 16% Qf leodld July 14, 1964 A. J. D] SALVO 3,140,333

DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANTI/01V) J.0/ J01 v0 INVENTOR.

July 14, 1964 D] s vo 3,140,888

DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Ayn/am? .r.omnuvo United States Patent 3,140,888 DGOR LATCH MECHANISM Anthony J. DiSalvo, Garden City, Mich, assignor to Ford Motor Qompany, Dearhorn,Mich, a corporation of Deiaware Filed Dec. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 246,656 4Claims. (Cl. 292-43) This invention relates to latch mechanisms forswinging doors, especially the doors of automobile or other vehiclebodies.

Most door latch mechanisms currently in use on motor vehicles compriserotatable or pivotal latch device means adapted to engage a striker orkeeper device mounted on a vehicle door framing structure, a detentmeans releasably engaged with the latch device means to hold the latterin door latched position, an actuating or release member operativelyassociated with the detent means for disengaging the same from the latchdevice means, and manually operable means on the outside and the insideof the vehicle door operative to cause such disengagement. ln almost alllatch mechanisms of this general class, the manually operable meansoperative from the outside of the door acts on the detent means throughthe actuating or release member. The manually operable means operativefrom the inside of the door may be constructed and arranged to actdirectly on the detent means or through the actuating or release member.Most vehicles are provided with at least one front door which can alwaysbe opened from the inside of the passenger compartment even if the latchmechanism is conditioned so that the door cannot be opened from theoutside.

Latch mechanisms may be categorized by the manner in which the manuallyoperable means operable from the outside of the door is renderedinoperative to disengage the detent means from the latch device means,thus placing the latch mechanism in locked condition. This may be doneby the use of a blocking means selectively positionable to blockmovement of the detent means actuating or release member. This may alsobe done by use of a disconnection means interposed in the train ofmembers extending from the outer manually operable means to the detentmeans.

Reference may be made to C. F. Kramer U.S. Patent No. 2,987,336, issuedJune 6, 1961, for a latch mechanism exemplifying the type in which ablocking means is used to render the manually operable means inoperativeto disengage the detent means from the latch device means.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a latch mechanismcharacterized by many of the features of the latch mechanism disclosedin the Kramer patent and which is further characterized by the inclusionof features of construction by which the means manually operable fromthe outside of the door, such as a handle, push button or the likeoperated means, may be operatively disconnected from the detentactuating member. More specifically, the train of parts or membersoperatively associating the outside operator with the detent meansincludes a part or member directly coupled to the detent actuatingmember but being shiftable thereon from a detent actuating to a detentnonactuating position, said part or member being shiftable by a leveroperable from the outside or the inside of the door. A latch mechanismso constructed and arranged is said to be a free wheeling asdistinguished from a blocked type. In other words, the outside operatoris always responsive to manual manipulation regardless of whether or notthe latch mechanism is in locked or unlocked condition, even though suchmanipulation of the outside operator is not effective in lockedcondition of the mechanism to cause disengagement of the detent meansfrom the latch device means.

The major advantage to be derived from free wheel- 3,140,888 PatentedJuly 14, 1964 ing latch mechanisms is that the latch mechanism parts,particularly those in the train of elements: between the outsideoperator and the detent means, may be made of much lighter gauge metalthan the parts used in a blocking type lock. In a blocking type lock theparts must be made strong enough to withstand any force which might beexerted on the outside operator by means of a pry bar, hammer or otherdevice which might be used to attempt a forceful entry through the doorwhen the latter is in locked condition. It will be readily apparent thatin a latch mechanism in which part of the train of elements may bedisconnected, any force exerted on the outside operator by an implementof any kind is inelfective to distort or spring the latch mechanismparts to a degree sufficient to permit disengagement of the detent fromthe latch device means and the door to be opened. This, of course,applies to any impact the outside operator might sustain in a collisionor upset of the vehicle. The use of light gauge metal results inmanufacturing cost savings since less metal is used and longer metalstamping die life is obtained.

Other objects and advantages and the features of construction of thepresent invention will be made more apparent as this descriptionproceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism embodying thepresent invention as it would appear when mounted on a vehicle door, afragmentary portion of the door being shown in dot and dash outline;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the latch mechanism as it would appearfrom the free edge wall of the vehicle door;

HG. 3 is an elevational view taken from the left side of HG. 2 as viewedin the drawing;

PEG. 4 is an elevational view in part similar to FIG. 3 illustratingparts of the latch mechanism in a second operative position; and

MG. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating parts of the latch mechanism asthey appear from the opposite side of FIG. 3.

In the drawing there is illustrated, by way of example, a preferredembodiment of the present latch mechanism, generally designated 10, asapplied to the door of an automobile body. Adapted to be secured as bymeans of screws (not shown) to the inner side of the free edge wall orjamo opposing wall 11 of a vehicle door 12 is a latch mechanism supporthaving a main plate 13 and a flange or second plate 14 which is adaptedto be positioned along the inner panel of the door. The present latchmechanism has a pair of pivoted latch devices comprising jaw elements 15(see FIG. 1) positioned at the outer face of the main plate 13. Each jawelement 15 is provided with a shaft or pivot portion 16 having a reducedbearing portion 17 extending through a suitable flanged aperture (notshown) in the main plate 13. T he inner reduced end or bearing portion17 of each shaft 16 is provided with diametrically opposed flats 18thereon. Fitted over the bearing portion 17 and keyed thereto by theflats 18 are a pair of control plates 19 and 21. Each jaw element 15 isthus rigidly coupled to a control plate 19 or 21, being concentrictherewith on a shaft 16. As defined herein, each latch device meanscomprises a jaw element 15, a shaft 16 and a control plate 19 or 21.

Each jaw element 15 is a substantially triangular plate member havingits pivot axis located near its apex end. The side opposite the apex endis outwardly rounded and is provided in the center thereof with asemicircular recess or enlarged notch 22.

Each control plate is a gear sector having teeth 23, the teeth beingintermeshed to thereby couple the control plates 19 and 21 together forcorrelated movements. Both jaw elements 15 are thus controlled forcounterdiara sss rectional swinging movement in unison toward and fromeach other into and out of door latched condition.

A spiral spring 24 is disposed concentrically with and adjacent theinner face of the control plate 19. The spring 24 is coupled at itsinner end 25 to the shaft 16 carrying the control plate 19, the shafthaving a slot or kerf 26 receiving the spring end. The outer or free end27 of the spring 24 is looped over the edge of a slot 28 on the flangeor second plate 14. The spring 24 is installed in a preloaded conditionso that it at all times tends to rotate or urge the control plate 19,the shaft 16 and associated jaw element 15 in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 2. Since the control plate 21 is coupled tothe control plate 19 through the gear teeth 23, rotative force exertedby the spring 24 on the plate 19 is transmitted to the plate 21 so thatit is also at all times under a rotative force urging it, the shaft 16and associated jaw element 15 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.2.

The control plate 21 is provided with two peripherally spaced abutmentsor ratchet teeth 29 and 31. Cooperable with the abutment or ratchettoothed edge of the control plate 21 is a detent 32 pivotally mounted ona shoulder rivet 33 secured to the main plate 13. It will be noted thatthe detent 32 extends in a substantially horizontal direction across themain plate 13 from its pivot, the shoulder rivet 33, toward the flange14. The flange 14 is provided with an elongated vertically extendingslot 34 (see FIG. through which an extension or arm 35 of the detent 32projects.

Above the arm 35 the detent has an abutment portion 36 cooperable withthe teeth or abutments 29 and 31 on the control plate 21. When thedetent abutment 36 is in engagement with the control plate abutment 29,the jaw elements will be held in what is known as a secondary latchedposition. In other words, although the jaw elements 15 are not in afully latched position, they are closed sufliciently to engage a strikeror keeper pin therebetween to prevent opening movement of a vehicledoor. When the abutment 36 is in engagement with the control plateabutment or tooth 31, as shown in FIG. 2, the jaw elements 15 will be infinal latched position or fully gripping the striker or keeper pin (notshown).

The detent 32 is urged in a counterclockwise direction or toward thecontrol plate 19 by a spiral spring 37. This spring is anchored at itsinner end 38 to the shoulder rivet 33 and at its free or outer end 39 toa short upwardly extending extension 41 of the detent 32.

Pivotal actuation of the detent 32 in a clockwise direction, as viewedin FIG. 2, or in a direction away from the control plate 21, isaccomplished through a detent actuating means carried on the flange orsecond plate portion 14. This detent actuating means comprises ahorizontally extending detent actuating member 42 which is pivotallymounted on the outer edge of the plate portion 14 on a pivot stud 43.The actuating member 42 extends across the plate portion 14 toward themain plate 13 and has an end portion 44 overlying the extension 35 ofthe detent 32.

The actuating member 42 has an upwardly extending portion 45 terminatingin a flange 46 turned outwardly from the plate portion 14, for a purposeto be explained.

The central portion of the actuating member 42 is provided with a slot47 therein. The slot 47 is irregularly shaped and has at its end awayfrom the pivot axis of the member 42 a substantially radially extendingnotch 48. The end 49 of the slot closest to the pivot stud 43 may beconsidered as elongated in a direction transversely of the notch 48 orcircumferentially about the pivot axis of the member 42.

A control lever 51 is pivotally mounted on the second plate portion 14for swinging movement about a pivot stud 52 located below the pivot stud43 and inwardly of the outer edge of the second plate portion 14. Thecontrol lever 51 has an upwardly extending arm 53 which 4 is embossed topermit it to overlie the central portion of the actuating member 42. Thelever arm 53 has a slot 54 the longitudinal axis of which extendssubstantially radially relative to the pivot axis of the control lever51 as defined by the pivot stud 52.

The detent actuating member 42 and the arm 53 of the control lever 51are operatively coupled to each other through a bushing element 55. Thisbushing element is preferably made of a plastic material having a lowcoefficient of friction when sliding on steel. The bushing element 55has an enlarged head 56 frictionally engaged with the face of theactuating member 42 having bearing engagement with the surface of theplate portion 14. As best seen in FIG. 5, the plate portion 14 has anenlarged aperture 57 providing movement clearance for the head 56 of thebushing element, the head of the bushing element being bodily shiftablein the plane of the plate portion 14 during operation of the latchmechanism.

The bushing element 55 has a shank portion 58 complementary in size tothe notch 48 in the actuating member 42. A plastic washer 59 isinterposed between bearing surfaces of the actuating member 42 and thecontrol lever arm 53. A steel washer 61 having a snap-fit over theprojecting end 62 of the bushing element completes the assembly, exceptfor one end 63 of an operating link 64 which is inserted through thecenter of the bushing element for a purpose to be explained.

The control lever 51 has two substantially horizontal arms 65 and 66extending in opposite directions from the pivot stud 52. The arm 65extends toward the main plate portion 13 in position to underlie theextension 35 of the detent. The arm 66 is provided with two verticallyspaced apertures 67 and 68, each of which receives an end of anoperating link 69 and 71, respectively (as best seen in FIG. 1). Thelink 69 is adapted to extend upwardly through the garnish moulding ofthe vehicle door. The link 71 extends downwardly where it is connectedat its lower end to one end 72 of a horizontally extending bell cranklever 73 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot stud 74 to a lowerextension 75 of the main plate portion 13 of the latch mechanism. Itwill be noted that the link 64 which is coupled at its upper end 63 tothe bushing element 55 extends in a substantially downward direction andis coupled at its lower end to the end 76 of a substantiallyhorizontally extending lever 77 which is pivoted on a pivot stud 78 tothe extension 75 of the main plate 13.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the end 79 of the lever 73 and the end 81 of thelever 77 are each operatively coupled to upwardly extending operatinglinks 82 and 83, respectively. The upper end of the link 82 is adaptedto be coupled to a conventional key cylinder mechanism (not shown)accessible from the outside of the vehicle door. The upper end of thelink 83 is adapted to be coupled to a conventional outside operator,such as a push button mechanism of the type shown in US. Patent3,054,634.

The detent actuating member 42 is adapted to be swung in detentdisengaging direction from the inside of the vehicle door through a bellcrank lever 84 pivotally mounted on a pivot stud 85 on the flange orsecond plate portion 14 of the latch mechanism support plate. The bellcrank lever 84 has an upwardly extending arm 86 which is adapted to beoperatively coupled to the conventional remote control mechanism (notshown) mounted on the inner door panel. The bell crank lever 84 has asubstantially downwardly extending arm 87 which abuts the flange 46 onthe upwardly extending portion 45 of the detent actuating member 42.

, It will be noted that the pivot stud 43 which carries the detentactuating member 42 also carried a spiral spring 88 having its free endportion 89 looped over a lug 91 on the detent actuating member 42. Asviewed in FIG. 3, the spring resiliently resists any swinging movementof the detent actuating member 42 in a counterclockwise direction andis, therefore, effective to restore the detent actuating member to itsoperative position as shown in FIG. 3 after the latter has been swung ina counterclockwise direction either by operation of the outside operatoror through the inside remote control operated bell crank lever 84. Astop 92 is provided at the upper edge of the plate portion 14 to limitthe counterclockwise swinging movement of the bell crank lever 84 as itis restored to its normal rest position after release of the insideoperator.

It will also be noted that the control lever 51 is under the influenceof a toggle spring 93 which extends between the control lever 51 and theplate portion 14 of the latch mechanism support. The toggle spring 93 iseffective to ensure that the control lever is maintained in either theposition shown in FIG. 3 or the position shown in FIG. 4, as Will bereadily understood. The at rest position of the control lever is alsocontrolled by a stop 94 lanced out of the flange or plate portion 14. Aswill be understood, the abutting relationship of the control lever arm53 to the stop 94, provides a positive limitation on the over-centeraction of the toggle spring 93.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the various parts of the latch mechanismare shown in the position they will occupy when the vehicle door is in aclosed position and the latch mechanism is ready for actuation so thatthe door may be opened. To open the vehicle door from the outside, it isnecessary to depress the outside operator push button (not shown) whichresults in a lifting movement on the link 33. When the link 83 islifted, the lever 77 is swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.2 causing the link 64 to be pulled downwardly. Since the bushing element55 is in the end 48 of the slot 47 on the detent actuating member,downward movement of the link 64 results in a counterclockwise movementof the detent actuating member 42, as viewed in FIG. 3. The end 45 ofthe detent actuating member will abut the end 35 of the detent causingthe latter to be swung downwardly in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 2. The abutment 36 on the detent means 32 is thus released fromengagement with the abutment 31 on the control plate 21. Under theinfluence of the spring 24, the latch device means will be swung in adirection to cause the jaws to open. The vehicle door may then be swungin an open direction.

The detent 32 may be released from the control plate 21 from the insideof the vehicle door by operation of the bell crank lever 84. If the bellcrank lever 84 is swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3,the arm 87 thereon will abut the flange 46 on the detent actuatingmember 42 causing the latter to be swung in a counterclockwisedirection. The end 45 of the detent actuating member will then engagethe end 35 of the detent causing the latter to be swung in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 2, or in a direction to disengage theabutment 36 from the abutment 31 on the control plate 21.

Upon the vehicle door being swung into a closed position, the parts ofthe latch mechanism will be restored to the relationship shown in FIGS.2 and 3. If it now is desired to lock the vehicle door so that it cannotbe opened from the outside, it is only necessary to shift the controllever 51 to the position shown in FIG. 4. This may be done from eitherthe outside or the inside of the vehicle door. To do this from theoutside of the vehicle door, it is necessary to insert a key in a keyoperated cylinder mechanism (not shown) and to actuate the latter so asto raise the end 79 of the lever 73 thereby swinging the latter in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. When the lever 73 is swung in aclockwise direction, the link 71 is pulled downwardly thereby causingthe control lever 51 to be swung in a clockwise direction from its FIG.3 position to the FIG. 4 position in which the bushing element 55 ismoved over to the end 49 of the slot 47 in the detent actuating means.When the bushing element 55 is in this position in the slot, anydownward movement of the link 64 merely causes the bushing element toidle in the slot 47 without affecting any movement of the detentactuating member 42.

The same result may be achieved from the inside of the vehicle bypushing down on the link 69 which projects through the garnish mouldingof the vehicle door. When the link 69 is pushed downwardly, the controllever 51 is swung from its FIG. 3 to its FIG. 4 position.

It should be noted that the door can always be opened from the inside.Regardless of the relationship of the bushing element 55 to the detentactuating member 42, the latter may always be actuated by the bell cranklever 84. Thus, even when the bushing element 55 is in the idlingportion of the slot 47 in the detent actuating member 42, the detentactuating member 42 will always respond to swinging movement of the bellcrank lever 84 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4. Movement ofthe bell crank lever 84 in this direction will be transmitted throughthe detent actuating member 42 and its portion 45 to the detent 32,causing the latter to be disengaged from the control plate 21 andthereby permitting the jaw elements to spring to their open position.

The arm on the control lever 51 has an important function in that itprevents any movement of the control lever from its FIG. 3 position toits FIG. 4 position when the jaw elements 15 are in their unlatchedposition. When the jaw elements are in their unlatched position theportion of the control plate 21 to the right of the abutment 29, asviewed in FIG. 2, operates to cam the detent 32 against the urging ofthe spring 37. The detent arm 35 is thus displaced a substantialdistance below its position shown in FIG. 2. When in this displacedposition, it engages the upper edge of the arm 65 of the control lever51. The control lever 51 is thereby blocked against swinging movement ina clockwise direction from the FIG. 3 to the FIG. 4 position and thelatch mechanism cannot be placed in a locked condition until the latchmechanism parts are restored to the relationship shown in FIG. 2. Theparts of the latch mechanism 16 cannot be placed in locked conditionuntil the door is fully closed and the detent abutment 36 is inengagement with the abutment 31 on the control plate 21.

The manner in which the jaw elements 15 coact with a striker or keeperdevice to hold the door in latched condition is fully described in theaforementioned C. F. Kramer U.S. Patent No. 2,987,336.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theexact construction shown and described, but that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A latch mechanism for a swing door comprising:

a support having two angularly related plate portions,

pivotal latch device means mounted on one of said plate portions,

detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageablewith said latch device means for holding the same in door latchedposition,

said detent means having a part extending toward the other of said plateportions,

a detent actuating member pivotally mounted on said other plate portionand having a part transversely overlying said part of the detent means,

a control lever pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and havinga first arm overlying said detent actuating member and a second armtransversely underlying said part of the detent means,

coupling means coupling said detent actuating member and said controllever first arm together,

said coupling means including overlying slots in said detent actuatingmember and said control lever first arm,

and a bushing element projecting through said slots,

said control lever slot being arranged toaccommodate movement of saidbushing element substantially radially of the pivot axis of said controllever,

said actuating member slot being arranged to accommodate movement ofsaid bushing element both radially and circumferentially of the pivotaxis of said actuating member,

said bushing element being shiftable by said control lever radially ofthe pivot axis of said actuating member into a first position thereon inwhich movement of said bushing element radially of said control leverpivot axis will pivotally move said actuating member in a direction toabut and swing said detent means to cause disengagement of the latterfrom said latch device means,

or said bushing element being shiftable by said control lever radiallyof the pivot axis of said actuating member into the portion of saidactuating member slot accommodating movement circumferentially of thepivot axis of said actuating member without causing swinging movement ofthe latter in detent means abutting direction,

and outer manually operable means including a link directly coupled tosaid bushing element for moving the latter in said control lever slot insaid substantially radial direction,

said detent means and said second arm of said actuating member indisengaged position of said detent means being in abutting relation andpreventing swinging movement of said control lever to thereby preventmovement of said bushing element into the portion of the slot in saiddetent actuating member permitting movement circumferentially of theactuating member pivot axis.

2. A latch mechanism according to claim 1 having bell crank meanspivotally mounted on said other plate portion and having a part thereofin abutting relation to said actuating member,

said bell crank means being operable to swing said actuating member intoengagement with said detent means regardless of the relationship of saidbushing element to said actuating member.

3. A latch mechanism according to claim 2 in which the latch devicemeans comprises:

a pair of jaw elements pivotally mounted on one side of said one plateportion for swinging movement about spaced axes perpendicular to theplane of said plate portion,

a pair of control members mounted on the opposite side of said one plateportion,

each control member being fixedly coupled to one of said jaw elementsfor pivotal movement therewith,

said control members having intermeshed portions whereby said jawelements are controlled for movement in unison toward and from eachother to door latched and door unlatched position, respectively,

and at least one of said control members being provided with a detentmeans engageable portion,

the detent means when in engagement with said detent means engageableportion holding said jaw elements in door latched position.

4. A latch mechanism according to claim 1 in which the latch devicemeans comprises:

a pair of jaw elements pivotally mounted on one side of said one plateportion for swinging movement about spaced axes perpendicular to theplane of said plate portion,

a pair of control members mounted on the opposite side of the said oneplate portion,

each control member being fixedly coupled to one of said jaw elementsfor pivotal movement therewith,

said control members having intermeshed portions whereby said jawelements are controlled for movement in unison toward and from eachother to door latched and door unlatched position, respectively,

and at least one of said control members being provided with a detentmeans engageable portion,

the detent means when in engagement with said detent means engageableportion holding said jaw elements in door latched position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,236,702 Andersen Apr. 1, 1941 2,782,062 Smith Feb. 19, 1957 2,987,336Kramer June 6, 1961

1. A LATCH MECHANISM FOR A SWING DOOR COMPRISING: A SUPPORT HAVING TWOANGULARLY RELATED PLATE PORTIONS, PIVOTAL LATCH DEVICE MEANS MOUNTED ONONE OF SAID PLATE PORTIONS, DETENT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID ONEPLATE PORTION AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATCH DEVICE MEANS FOR HOLDINGTHE SAME IN DOOR LATCHED POSITION, SAID DETENT MEANS HAVING A PARTEXTENDING TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID PLATE PORTIONS, A DETENT ACTUATINGMEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID OTHER PLATE PORTION AND HAVING A PARTTRANSVERSELY OVERLYING SAID PART OF THE DETENT MEANS, A CONTROL LEVERPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID OTHER PLATE PORTION AND HAVING A FIRST ARMOVERLYING SAID DETENT ACTUATING MEMBER AND A SECOND ARM TRANSVERSELYUNDERLYING SAID PART OF THE DETENT MEANS, COUPLING MEANS COUPLING SAIDDETENT ACTUATING MEMBER AND SAID CONTROL LEVER FIRST ARM TOGETHER, SAIDCOUPLING MEANS INCLUDING OVERLYING SLOTS IN SAID DETENT ACTUATING MEMBERAND SAID CONTROL LEVER FIRST ARM, AND A BUSHING ELEMENT PROJECTINGTHROUGH SAID SLOTS, SAID CONTROL LEVER SLOT BEING ARRANGED TOACCOMMODATE MOVEMENT OF SAID BUSHING ELEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY OFTHE PIVOT AXIS OF SAID CONTROL LEVER, SAID ACTUATING MEMBER SLOT BEINGARRANGED TO ACCOMMODATE MOVEMENT OF SAID BUSHING ELEMENT BOTH RADIALLYAND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE PIVOT AXIS OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER, SAIDBUSHING ELEMENT BEING SHIFTABLE BY SAID CONTROL LEVER RADIALLY OF THEPIVOT AXIS OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER INTO A FIRST POSITION THEREON INWHICH MOVEMENT OF SAID BUSHING ELEMENT RADIALLY OF SAID CONTROL LEVERPIVOT AXIS WILL PIVOTALLY MOVE SAID ACTUATING MEMBER IN A DIRECTION TOABUT AND SWING SAID DETENT MEANS TO CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE LATTERFROM SAID LATCH DEVICE MEANS, OR SAID BUSHING ELEMENT BEING SHIFTABLE BYSAID CONTROL LEVER RADIALLY OF THE PIVOT AXIS OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBERINTO THE PORTION OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER SLOT ACCOMMODATING MOVEMENTCIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE PIVOT AXIS OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER WITHOUTCAUSING SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER IN DETENT MEANS ABUTTINGDIRECTION, AND OUTER MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS INCLUDING A LINK DIRECTLYCOUPLED TO SAID BUSHING ELEMENT FOR MOVING THE LATTER IN SAID CONTROLLEVER SLOT IN SAID SUBSTANTIALLY RADIAL DIRECTION, SAID DETENT MEANS ANDSAID SECOND ARM OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER IN DISENGAGED POSITION OF SAIDDETENT MEANS BEING IN ABUTTING RELATION AND PREVENTING SWINGING MOVEMENTOF SAID CONTROL LEVER TO THEREBY PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID BUSHINGELEMENT INTO THE PORTION OF THE SLOT IN SAID DETENT ACTUATING MEMBERPERMITTING MOVEMENT CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE ACTUATING MEMBER PIVOTAXIS.